TOYBOX VOLUNTEERS APPRECIATE EARLY DONATIONS

Thinking about donating a toy to this year's Toybox campaign?

If so, consider dropping off a popular item now rather than later.

That from Jackie Ahrens, Toybox co-chairman for the Cape Girardeau Jaycees.

Toybox is a joint project of the Jaycees and Southeast Missourian.

Ahrens said there is usually a final push to get the toys most kids want at the end of the campaign. Thus, the sooner toys are donated, the less stress there is on Jaycees volunteers who help distribute them to needy children.

"Sometimes that makes it hard for us to fill a child's wish list because it usually takes us time to get the gift bagged and tagged for delivery," Ahrens said. "It would be a lot easier to give children in need what they ask for by getting the popular toys early. That way it wouldn't be such a rush to get those toys at the end."

Some of the more popular toys on this year's Toybox wish list: Power Rangers, Barbie and Ken dolls, board games, Gameboy, ABC books, coloring books and sports equipment.

Ahrens said the Boy Scouts are going to make her job easier this year by donating a toy they know is hot. "In the past the Boy Scouts have donated their time helping us bag the gifts," Ahrens said. "This year each Boy Scout is going to bring in a toy and make that their contribution to Toybox."

Said Ahrens: "What's nice about this is that each Boy Scout looks for a toy for someone his own age. They know what they like, so it makes our job of trying to project how much we'll need later on less difficult."

Trying to provide toys for move than 1,000 needy children becomes a challenge each year. "We try to come up with at least one item they ask for to make their Christmas special," Ahrens said. "Getting the toys early helps the Jaycees volunteers when they try to sort everything out and get it ready for delivery."

Toys will be sorted and bagged as early as this week. "We have to get started that soon in order to handle whatever late rush we might have," Ahrens said.

Applications for Toybox recipients are still being accepted at the Salvation Army. The project is for needy children 12 years and younger who live in Cape Girardeau.

The deadline for applications is Dec. 9. Jaycees Santas and elves will distribute the toys Dec. 20.

New, unwrapped toys may be delivered to the Southeast Missourian, 301 Broadway, or to the following Toybox collection centers: West Park Mall, Boatmen's Bank, Capital Bank, Perry Travel Center, Gulliver's Travel Agency, AmeriFirst Bank, Commerce Bank, Roosevelt Bank and Mercantile Bank.

Gifts and contributions may be mailed to Toybox Trust, P.O. Box 4, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63702-0004.